Scene 2 by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux Lyrics
2
HERMAINE, THE PRINCE
HERMAINE: Alright, I'm intrigued.
THE PRINCE: The fact are these: eighteen or nineteen years ago this same current dispute arose at my Father's court, became somewhat heated and remained unresolved. My Father, being of a naturally somewhat scientific bent, and not being in agreement with your position, resolved to decide the matter, by means of an experiment whose conclusions would be irrefutable. Four newly born children, two of your sex and two of ours, were brought to this wilderness where he had had this accommodation built especially to house them, and where each of them was confined, separately, and where each still currently occupies an enclosure from which they have never strayed, the world beyond which they have never seen. They know no-one except Mesrou and his sister, who reared them -- they've looked after them all their lives; they were selected for their colour, so that their charges might be the more astonished when they saw other people. And now for the very first time they'll be allowed the liberty of leaving their cells, and of meeting each other; they've been taught the language we use; one might justifiably regard whatever dealings they choose to have with each other as the first dawn of creation; the very first loves will begin, again -- we'll see what happens.
(At this point, we hear the sound of trumpets.)
We should take our places promptly, that's the signal warning us our young people are about to appear; there's a gallery runs right round the building from which we'll be able to see and hear them, whichever side they come out. Shall we?
HERMAINE, THE PRINCE
HERMAINE: Alright, I'm intrigued.
THE PRINCE: The fact are these: eighteen or nineteen years ago this same current dispute arose at my Father's court, became somewhat heated and remained unresolved. My Father, being of a naturally somewhat scientific bent, and not being in agreement with your position, resolved to decide the matter, by means of an experiment whose conclusions would be irrefutable. Four newly born children, two of your sex and two of ours, were brought to this wilderness where he had had this accommodation built especially to house them, and where each of them was confined, separately, and where each still currently occupies an enclosure from which they have never strayed, the world beyond which they have never seen. They know no-one except Mesrou and his sister, who reared them -- they've looked after them all their lives; they were selected for their colour, so that their charges might be the more astonished when they saw other people. And now for the very first time they'll be allowed the liberty of leaving their cells, and of meeting each other; they've been taught the language we use; one might justifiably regard whatever dealings they choose to have with each other as the first dawn of creation; the very first loves will begin, again -- we'll see what happens.
(At this point, we hear the sound of trumpets.)
We should take our places promptly, that's the signal warning us our young people are about to appear; there's a gallery runs right round the building from which we'll be able to see and hear them, whichever side they come out. Shall we?